OUR MISSION
The mission of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is "To enhance the quality of life by enrolling and educating our community in the preservation and protection of natural areas while standing as an example of these same principles and values in North Central Texas." This statement is the guiding principle that drives all facets of the FWNC&R. This includes our educational and recreational program offerings, location and routes of trails, and choice of habitat restoration methods.
After years of studying this beautiful, historical, and ecologically important property, our professional staff of naturalists has developed a great depth of appreciation for and understanding of this dynamic landscape. Educational programming and resource management plans to support our mission are drawn from this growing pool of knowledge.
Appreciation for the natural history of North Texas begins with the study of its geology, soils, and vegetation associations. The FWNC&R's 3600+ acres stretch across a transition zone or ecotone between two major ecological communities - the Fort Worth (Grand) Prairie and the Western Cross Timbers. The West Fork of the Trinity River, with its associated tributaries and wetlands, adds another layer of complexity to this diverse landscape as it dissects a meandering path through the park.
The Fort Worth Prairie is a true mid- and tall grassland community found on the eroding Walnut Shell limestone formation. Grasses such as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), yellow indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) and meadow dropseed (Sporobolus asper var. drummondii) form a dense matrix interspersed with a wide variety of forbs (wildflowers).
Beneath this Cretaceous-era limestone layer, the sandy/clay Paluxy formation supports the Western Cross Timbers oak-tallgrass savanna. This savanna community, which extends northeastward into Oklahoma and Kansas, represents the last westernmost vestige of the great eastern deciduous forests. Post Oak (Quercus stellata) is the dominant woody plant of the Cross Timbers and first-growth trees over 300 years old are present on the FWNC&R. Forested patches intermingle with grasslands dominated by little bluestem and yellow Indiangrass.
As the upland Cross Timbers savanna slopes down to the riparian zones along the watercourses, new additions to the floral and faunal community of the FWNC&R appear. Deep alluvial deposits support large overstory trees such as Pecan (Carya illinoensis), Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muhlenbergii) and Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides).
Visitors to the FWNC&R are invited to experience the beauty this native landscape has to offer. Nine miles of paved roads provide trailhead access and opportunities to enjoy a number of scenic views. Hikers can enjoy our extensive trail system that allows exploration of these varied plant and animal communities while preserving plenty of undisturbed habitat for wildlife. Visitors can also participate in a wide variety of educational programs and even volunteer to lend a hand with management activities such as wildlife surveys and grassland restoration.
For more information please call our Visitors Center (the Hardwicke Interpretive Center) at (817) 392-7410. We look forward to seeing you here!
